in fact, as we know, republicans like tom cole, a very conservative member from oklahoma, and others have said that that approach makes sense. and yet the speaker refuses to allow a vote on that proposal. and so allow democracy to work and so far unfortunately, speaker boehner has been held captive with the tea party wing of the republicans in the house, which voted down his own proposal just about a week ago, because he said, well, we should ask folks making over $1 million to pay more. his caucus said no. so what we're saying is, let the whole house, democrats and republicans, vote on the president's proposal. let democracy work its will. worst case scenario is that would be defeated. but you don't know until you hold a vote in the house of representatives. that's how democracy is supposed to work. it's not supposed to allow a small, extreme group within the republican caucus to dictate terms to the country. >> there is some indication from the hill that the call to bring vice president joe biden, two has negotiated deals in the past, obviously, with mitch mcconnell, has seemed to